[Jon H]

I've been told that the 31' open Tiaras have a problem with wet stringers. I've also heard that the 1980 thru 1983 models had no stringer problems. A surveyor once told me to run away from a Tiara with wet stringers. Another told me that the wood in the stringers was only used as a form and not required to bear the load and stress.

I hope someone on this forum can shed some light on this question.


Jon Hartz

[Sans Peur]

Anybody tells you the wood is just a form should be taken out and shot. No way in hell it is not part of the structural integrity of the boat. Only time I have seen stringers use something for a "Form" is the use of Foam. And then it was a structural grid stringer system (all one piece) throughout the boat.

[Misdirection]

As mentioned above, stringers are very important to the structural integrity of a boat. I personally would pass on a boat with wet stringers. While they can be repaired, you do not know what else youll get into once they start removing the rot.

Sent from my SM-A505U using Tapatalk

[Matta0413]

Call Tiara and ask them. I was told the same thing about the wood in a stringer on a Tiara could have been used as a form and the fiberglass is where the boats strength comes from. Have the Hull number handy and they will tell you.

[reeltimebrad]

I cant speak for all the Tiaras but I know from at least 1995 and up on the opens the stringers are so tall that the strength is in the fiberglass and not the wood. I have had a couple of charter boats and they have to be dry dock inspected by very knowledgeable people with degrees in boat design. Before I owned a Tiara I had a 3010 Sportcraft that also had the very tall stringers and the inspector was commenting on how even if these stringers had moisture it would not matter because in his own words they look like Tiara stringers and all the strength is in the height of the fiberglass even if the wood rotted completely out it would be fine and that its only there to act as a form.

[ReelEnjoyment]

I do not feel balsa wood is very structural
YMMV

[Sans Peur]

Did they use balsa wood? If so then I would agree with the glass being the strength. If it is anything else then it is all part of the structural integrity of the boat and not just a filler/form. Fiberglass can be a good structural stringer if that is what is was made to do. But just like rebar in concrete, wood inside will contribute to the strength of the form.

[Rotor]

Per Tiara, in writing, on my 1986 3600 Continental the wood was for form purposes only except under the engine mounts. The wood was not relied on for structural integrity.

[Lucky Dog 33]

I too was told by tiara and a few surveyors that the wood in the stringer was just to form the glass, and the glass angle and shape are where all it’s strength is. That said, I still can’t fathom having wet stringers, especially at engine mount locations.

[accudyne@comcast.net]

Hi,
I had a 2002 pursuit 30 express with wet stringers, and when the surveyor found the moisture the new owner was with him and showed concern.

The surveyor told him that the glass on the pursuit is so thick that even if the stringer was totally gone it would not effect the boat at all!

The surveyor also visited the factory and saw how they were built.

I know it is not a pursuit but they are sister companies and would not worry .

We are now looking for a Tiara sovran.

hope this helps

Steve